Max relief: Tigers force decisive Game 5

Oct. 9, 2013
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Victor Martinez celebrates a game-tying home run in the seventh inning that needed to be reviewed. / Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

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DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers were dead, but then one of Tony Bosch's favorite clients gave them life.

They were fading again, but then along came the most beautiful splintered bat of Austin Jackson's career.

They were on life support when their 20-game winner came out of the bullpen to save their season.

And just like that, after pulling out a heart-stopping 8-6 victory against the Oakland Athletics, the Tigers went scurrying home Tuesday night to pack their suitcases.

They have a plane to catch.

The Tigers will be going to Oakland to play Game5 of the American League Division Series on Thursday. And for the second time in 364 days, their ace, Justin Verlander, will be on the mound at the Coliseum to make sure the Tigers keep on playing.

And so this series that the A's had dominated suddenly has turned into a doozy.

The Tigers, held without a hit for four innings, then down to their final nine outs, suddenly have come alive, thanks to a guy who was disgraced two months ago.

Jhonny Peralta was one of the dirty 14 in the Biogenesis investigation, suspended for 50 games, having no idea whether he'd be welcomed back.

Now he's the only Biogenesis client playing in the postseason, triggering both internal and external debates, with Hall of Famers such as Joe Morgan believing he should have been banned the entire season.

The Tigers aren't quite sure what to think about it, with All-Star right fielder Torii Hunter choosing not to share his opinion, calling it "a hot tamale."

Yet he paid for his sins, served his suspension and if not for him the Tigers would be done for the year.

Peralta awoke the Tigers' slumbering offense with a three-run homer in the fifth inning, their first of the postseason, that rocked the joint.

They tied the score again two innings later when Victor Martinez, who missed last season after knee surgery, hit a homer that barely landed over the outstretched glove of A's right fielder Josh Reddick.

And off a fan.

Reddick complained, calling for fan interference.

The umpires huddled, went to the instant-replay booth, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland joined them, knowing it was their most important replay decision of the season.

"I usually wait for the guys to come out of the video room," he said, "and they let me know. But in this case I went down there to look at it.

"I saw the replay, and it was definitely a home run."

Sorry if the A's respectfully disagree.

"There was no doubt it my mind it was going in my glove," Reddick said.

The homer tied the score at 4, and if the A's thought they had bad luck, it was only starting.

Tigers leadoff hitter Jackson, hitless in his previous 14 at-bats with 10 strikeouts, hit a two-out shallow fly ball that left his bat in splinters. Jackson, with the way he has been hitting, thought it would be caught.

"I figured (Reddick) would make a diving catch," Jackson said, "and I'd have to run out there and knock it out of his glove."

No need. The ball dropped in front of him. The run scored.

"And I've never been so happy," Jackson said, "to see my bat broken."

Then along came an eighth inning that might live forever in Tigers folkore, if they keep playing in October. Probable Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, summoned out of the bullpen an inning earlier, had the bases loaded and nobody out.

And somehow lived to tell about it.

Scherzer struck out Reddick on a 3-and-2 changeup. He struck out Stephen Vogt on a sinker. And he got pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo to fly out to center.

"It was surreal," Scherzer said. "That's the stuff you dream about. To be able to get out of that jam, that's something I'll never forget."

It might be a game the Motor City will never forget, keeping their season alive, with hopes of winning that first World Series championship since 1984.

"Nobody said this was going to be easy," Martinez said. "It was unbelievable to be a part of it. I think both teams will remember this game."

Yes, indeed, it's why Peralta saved his home run ball and will keep it forever.

It's why Jackson would like to find that shattered bat, keeping the pieces for posterity.

It's why Leyland pumped his fist to the fans leaving the ballpark, hoping to see them again next week.